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Cricket Australia will ask the BCCI for its official stance on the Gabba Test as confusion continues over the series finale in Brisbane.
Reports surfaced again on Thursday morning that India would push to move the Test away from Queensland, as their frustration over hotel quarantine grows.
India captain Ajinkya Rahane on Wednesday night refused to confirm if they would play in Brisbane next week, instead leaving the decision with team management.
At this stage though CA is yet to receive a formal complaint from the BCCI or field any official request to move the Test.
It’s believed CA officials will make contact with BCCI bosses on Thursday to seek clarification on the situation – which has now been bubbling for more than a week after exemptions were granted to closed cross the border from Sydney into Queensland.
Tim Paine admitted on Wednesday he felt uncertain about the venue for the fourth Test because India “hold a lot of power in world cricket, it’s likely that it could happen”.
Speaking at the toss on Thursday, Paine declared his team is “happy to play anywhere, any time”.
“We will go about our business in this Test and go where we have to go,” Australia’s skipper said.
“Whatever happens off the field between the boards is out of our control.”
Rahane, asked about the speculation on Thursday morning, replied: “We are just focusing on this Test”.
It’s understood CA presented its plans to the BCCI on December 29, which included players having to stay in hotel rooms in Sydney and Brisbane.
That is said to have been agreed to by Indian authorities at the time and has since been approved by Queensland Health.
CA has heard nothing from the BCCI since but has watched on as sources within the Indian camp complain about the set-up in Queensland.
The governing body wants to know if those are the views of BCCI boss Sourav Ganguly, who was recently hospitalised after a heart scare, and secretary Jay Shah.
Quarantine conditions are effectively the same in Sydney and Brisbane, with players confined to their hotels but allowed out of their individual rooms.
The only difference is that those parameters are set by CA in Sydney, as opposed to the Queensland government in Brisbane.
Players will only spend two days in Brisbane before the series finale begins at the Gabba, where Australia haven’t lost a Test since 1988.
India’s chief issue appears to be that they have already served two weeks in quarantine on arrival to Australia, and cannot understand why there are further restrictions.
However, the situation has changed in Sydney since their arrival and when they played white-ball games in the city, given the recent outbreak and ensuing closure of state borders.
Rahane on Wednesday made the point three times that India were living in stricter conditions than the general public in Sydney.
“It is a challenge but we have to face it as a team,” he said.
“We’re not complaining or anything … the BCCI and team management will make any decisions (about Brisbane).”
© AAP
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